As the third division of Scottish football looms, uncertain season ticket sales will hold the key to the length of the Ibrox recovery

DESPITE the vote by the Scottish Football League clubs to admit Rangers to the
Third Division, there are still hoops for the Ibrox club to jump through
before they travel to Peterhead for their opening league match on August 11.

They must first secure membership of the Scottish Football Association, with
talks expected to take place after tomorrow’s annual general meeting of the
Scottish Premier League.

That unhappy assembly is due to decide whether Dundee or Dunfermline fulfil
the fixtures allocated to Club 12, although the more cynical of the SFL
chairman still cling to the belief that Charles Green’s newco Rangers will
be invited in by their frightened SPL counterparts.

Such an outcome would destroy what vestiges of credibility Scottish football
retains as a result of this long-running summer farce. Not least because
Green, manager Ally McCoist and the bulk of the club’s fans welcomed the
SFL’s decision to